With the children getting exposure to the internet, it’s become quite difficult for parents to keep an eye on the kind of content their children are watching online. To ensure the safety of children, the UAE has introduced new legislation. It aims to tackle the evolving risk of what the children may face online!
UAE’s New Child Digital Safety Law
Back in December 2025, the UAE announced the issuance of Federal Decree No. 26 of 2025 on Child Digital Safety. This creates a nationwide legal framework to protect children from online risk and to ensure they have access to safe and age-appropriate digital content. Not to mention, this law focuses on safeguarding children physically, psychologically, and morally. Not to mention, it would regulate how digital platforms and internet services operate.
This Law Applies To ISPs
This law applies to internet service providers and digital platforms that operate in the UAE or target users who are in the country. Additionally, this law covers a wide range of online services that include the following:
- Websites
- Search engines
- Social media networks
- Live-streaming services
- Streaming platforms
- Smart applications
- Podcasts
- Messaging apps
- Online forums
- Online gaming platforms
- Video-on-demand services
- E-commerce platforms
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A Classification System for Digital Platforms
It should be noted that the Decree Law introduces a classification system for digital platforms that has been approved by the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council. These are categories on the basis of risk level, type of content, usage, volume, and potential impact on children with mandatory age-based control. The digital platforms must apply them depending on their classification.
The law also prohibits the collection, processing, publishing, or sharing of any kind of personal data of children who are under the age of 13. Moreover, their children are not allowed to participate in or access online commercial games that involve gambling, betting, or the creation of gambling-related accounts. Finally, ISPs must have an active content featuring system that enforces policies against harmful content and ensure its safe and supervised internet for the children to use.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/Karola G from Pexels (Cover image is for representative purposes only)
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